The UK has banned two of the most virulently anti-Western Islamist groups in Britain: Britain invokes law in banning 2 groups. (Hat tip: The Jawa Report.)

LONDON - Britain on Monday banned two Islamist groups operating in the country, invoking for the first time a new law against glorifying terrorism.

Home Secretary John Reid issued an order in Parliament to make it a criminal offense for a person to belong to or encourage support for al-Ghurabaa and the Saved Sect.

Both groups are believed to be splinters of al-Muhajiroon, formed in 1996 by Omar Bakri Mohammad to promote a global Islamic state. The group was officially disbanded in 2004, and Bakri Mohammad has been banned from returning to Britain.

The orders make it illegal to arrange meetings in their support, or wear clothing or carry any article in public indicating support or membership.

Al-Ghurabaa spokesman Anjem Choudary reacted with outrage, arguing that the government had failed to engage in a viable dialogue with Muslims.

“The easy option when one is losing an argument is to ban the opposition voice. And that’s what’s happened here,” Choudary said. “We (al-Ghurabaa) are not a military organization; we have only been vociferous in our views — views concerning everything from the government’s foreign policy in Iraq and Afghanistan to the host of draconian laws, which they’ve introduced against us in this country.”

As of this writing, however, the Al Ghurabaa web site is still online.